Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-22
AZTEC MUMMlEs.
Bodies F5und in II Cave OF tfie- Sierra
AIadre Mountaans,.

Bodies E1und in Cave of tile Sierra
Madre Mountaans,.
Some few weeks ago there was brought
to this city y collection of mumuies, which
constitute cne of the most remarkable
scientific discoveries made on the Aneri-
can continent. These mummies differ from
those discovered in Egypt in a remarkable
degree, being entirely nude, without wrap
pings, and apparently not having been sub
]ected to any embalming process. B2pos-
ure to the air has no effect upon them, the
flesh having been dried in an Theoretically
sealed cavern until it is like parchment,
and the weight of the bodies is merely
nominal.
Mr.. Docking, in whose possession these
specimens are at the present Time, tells a
romantic story regarding their discovery.
In one of the spurs of the Sierra Madre
mountains, not far from the banks of the
Gila river, and almost on the boundary line
between Arizona and New Mexico, a party
of American miners was searching for
treasure which tradition says is buried in
these hills. A cavern was one day diseoy-
cred, hermetically sealed with a cement
which defied the picks of the party, and
only after clipping it off flake by
flake was an entrance gained to the
cave. Lighted only by the fame
OF blazing pine branch the party traversed
a passage about thirty feet in length, which
ended in room cut in the solid rock. Here
instead of untold gold and other treasure of
the Aztecs, they were startled to find q
number of human bodies, locking more
ghastly than usual in the f1ickering light of
the torches. After recovering from their
surprise, preparations were made to move
the remains, bat the superstitious natives
of the vicinity believing that the bodies
,f 1,ni A. IL.
proceedings, and it was only with much
diplomacy and occasional skirmishes that
they were finally conveyed to flag station
on the Southern Pacific Road and trans
ported TO this city, where they were placed
in the charge of Mr.. Docking, who still
keeps them in his residence where thev
have been viewed by large number of
scientists and physicisns, as well as by the
various Consuls of foreign powers in this
city.
The most remarkable of the mummies
are those of a mother and child, which.
when found, were enveloped in one shroud
portions OF which are still to be seen cov-
ering the lower limbs of the mother.
Still another mummy is that of a wo-
man, her long hair being in state of per-
feet preservation. The feet are small and
highly arched, while the fingers are long
and tapering. Remnants of her shroud
still remaining are OF dark blue color, d f
fering both in this respect and in texture
from the material of which the other
shrouds were composed.
Another remarkable specimen, however.
is that of man in sitting posture, the
body being considerably larger than any of
the others. During life his girth of chest
must have been much above the average,
the whole of the upper portion of the body
having seemingly been nodded in gigantic
proportions. The cartilages of the ears and
nose are still plainly to be seen. while the
head is covered with a dense growth of
black hair. The eyebrows are well de-
fined, while between the glistening teeth
protrudes the tongue, now dried to an al
most cork-like consistency.
The remaining mummy is that of a man.
said by scientists to have been compare
lively young at the time of his death.
Many speeulations have been made bv
those who have seen the collection as to
his relation to the female bodies reclining
on either side of him. And the different
theories of brother and husband have
many advocates.
That the remains are those of the ancient
Aztecs, members of that civilization which
was destroyed in Mexico by the soldiers of
Cortez, there can be no doubt. The woman
and the smaller man present all the pecu-
liar physical conditions attributed to this
once numerous people. The high cheek
bones and slanting eyes are there the thick
skin and black hair are plainly visible to
the eye, and the hight of the bodies. al
though they were found more or less
doubled upon themselves, is estimated at
about five feet and three inches. When
this is taken into consideration, with the
fact that the Aztecs spread south ward from
H.. H. IL ~
hahited the high plateaus of Mexico and
Central America, there can be little doubt
as to the race of which these mummies
were once living members.
The specimens will be shipped East in a
few days, and, in all probability, will find
resting place in one of the principal mu-
seums of Europe. Although Mr.. Docking
has kindly shown them to all scientists
and historians who have called upon him,
they will not be placed upon public exhi-
biion III this city.-!S. r. Bulietia.